KUALA LUMPUR: A man and his ex-wife have been charged in the Sessions Court here with abusing a 10-year-old girl.
The 34-year-old man and the 33-year-old woman, who were married when the offence was allegedly committed, pleaded not guilty to the charge read out separately before Judge Egusra Ali.
The man, who is the girl's biological father, allegedly abandoned or exposed his daughter, aged 10 years and nine months, in a manner likely to cause her physical or emotional injury at a condominium in Jalan Kuching, Sentul between 9pm and 11pm last Nov 21.
The woman, who is the girl's stepmother, is charged with causing physical injury to the girl at the same place, time and date.
They were charged under Section 31(1) (a) of the Child Act which provides a fine of up to RM50,000 or a maximum imprisonment of 20 years or both upon conviction.
The court allowed both accused bail of RM10,000 each and also ordered them to report themselves at a police station and not to intimidate witnesses. They were also ordered to surrender their passports to the court.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Nursyuhada Abd Rauf appeared for the prosecution, while lawyers Farriz Minarwan Basaruddin and Mohamad Zainuddin Abu Bakar represented the man and woman respectively.
The court set Jan 23 for mention. – Bernama
